Flathead Mullet, Black Mullet, Bully Mullet, Common Mullet, Grey Mullet
Mugil cephalus
Description:
Cylindrical body that tapers to a forked tail. Bluish-gray to green back that fades to silver sizes and white belly. Blunt nose with small forward-facing mouth. Scale markings form faint horizontal stripes along the sides of the fish’s body. Two distinct dorsal fins; second dorsal fin starts of beginning of anal fin. Dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins each have a sharp spine.
Average Maximum Size:
122 cm (48 in)
Adults Distinguishing Characteristics:
Striped Mullet have dusky stripes on the side, and the yellow pigment in their iris is spread around the entire eye, and there is no brassy-gold spot on the gill plate behind the eye. White Mullet have no stripes, and yellow pigment is concentrated at the top of the iris. White Mullet have a brassy-gold spot on gill plate.
Juveniles Distinguishing Characteristics:
Stripes may not be visible in either juvenile Striped Mullet. To distinguish them from the White Mullet, Striped Mullet eye pigment (yellow) will be spread around the eye and it will lack the brassy-gold spot on the gill plate.
Range:
Nova Scotia to Brazil
Habitat:
Coastal waters and estuaries with soft sandy and muddy bottoms. Observed to travel upstream brackish rivers. After adults spawn offshore and juveniles migrate back inshore. Can be found worldwide in tropical and temperate seas.
Notes:
An important cultural fish to local communities in Georgia.
